Yoga Better than Brain Games?

As a coda to the prior article, a recent study showed that yoga and meditation are more effective than crosswords and memory games for combating the mental decline that often precedes Alzheimer’s.

Researcher compared the two approaches in a group of volunteers over the age of 55 who had reported memory issues such as forgetting names and faces, missing appointments or misplacing belongings.

They found that after three months both approaches contributed to improved verbal memory, which help people remember names and words.   But the yoga provided added benefits in visual-spatial memory, which helps people to recall locations and navigate while traveling.

The form of yoga used in the study, known as Kundalini, focuses on breathing, meditation and chanting as well as poses designed to increase strength and flexibility.

As one of the researchers concluded, a regular practice of yoga and meditation could be a simple, safe and low-cost solution to improving your brain fitness.